Chesterfield solar farm given green light for extension despite concerns

Lightsource BP will be able to extend its operations to the west of Duckmanton for a total period of 40 years after the decision by Chesterfield Borough Council’s planning committee.

Councillors and residents living nearby had raised concerns about the extension of development.

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Coun Mick Bagshaw, member for Hollingwood, Inkersall and Duckmanton, said there was ‘no direct benefit’ to local people from the site and claimed the solar farm had added to flooding issues on Tom Lane.

He also said the company had ‘made no attempt to liaise with ward members or the community’ and questioned why the extension would be for 40 years when life expectancy of the solar panels was only up to 30 years.

One Duckmanton resident said: “The company has been operating the site for only five years and suddenly now believes it will have further years left in the solar farm system for the farm to operate efficiently beyond the current scheme of 27 years.”

He also objected to the solar farm being located on the doorstep of a ‘deprived community’ which needed its green space.

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However, another resident, June Webley, of Duckmanton, wrote to planners to say she was pleased the village was ‘leading the way in our area for energy from renewables’.

"In respect of power cuts the solar farm has been a big benefit to the area let alone the village,” she said.

“Staveley, Arkwright and Sutton-cum-Duckmanton have several solar farms. Our one at Duckmanton feeds one thousand houses.

“We need as much electricity as we can get for the future when we are going to be driving cars run on electricity and using even more re-chargeable domestic gadgets like

toothbrushes, vacuum cleaners and mobile phones.”

Planning reports presented to the committee said the main issue for consideration was the ‘landscape and visual impact of the solar farm’ being in place for an extra 15 years.

A spokesperson for Lightsource BP declined to comment.

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